Higher Ed Jobs Offer Fringe Benefits

Benefits-eligible jobs at colleges and universities can offer a variety of nice perks.

Tuition Waivers

Perhaps the most alluring benefit of working in higher education is the break on tuition. Full-time University of Maine System employees receive a waiver on two courses (eight credit hours) per semester or summer session; while their dependents (who are matriculated students) receive 50 percent off of two classes per semester. Part-time employees enjoy half of those same benefits.

Discounts

Employees at the University of Vermont can show their Perks Card for discounts at a long list of local vendors, including ski/snow board resorts, hotel rooms, restaurants, healthcare providers, heating fuel providers and many other local retailers.

Donating Sick Time

Under the Community College System of New Hampshire, full-time employees can voluntarily donate unused sick leave to eligible full-time employees, who have been granted unpaid leave due to a serious illness or injury.

Domestic Partner Benefits

In 1995, Bowdoin College became one of the first employers in Maine to offer health benefits to domestic partners of the opposite or same sex. Their plan makes this benefit equitable to both married and non-married recipients - making up for the federal taxes imposed on non-married recipients.

Emergency Funds

Employees who are suffering extreme financial hardship can apply for emergency funds (up to $600) from the Bowdoin College Staff Assistance/Paller Funds. Any employee may also donate money to this fund.

Free Transportation

Employees at Champlain College in Vermont enjoy free transportation on the Chittenden County Transportation Authority bus system.

Facilities Access and Cultural Programs

With the flash of their Bates College employee ID, employees can enjoy free use of all fitness facilities (including weight room, swimming pool, indoor track, ice skating rink, and racquetball/squash/tennis courts) as well as bring their immediate families to any campus cultural program.

Family Friendly Benefits

Dartmouth College employees undergoing infertility treatments can receive up to $5000 per year in reimbursement (pro-rated for part-timers). This benefit applies to the employee, the employee's spouse or the employee's same-sex domestic partner. Also, new moms can take up to eight weeks of paid parental leave anytime during the first year of their baby's birth. New dads or partners can take up to two weeks paid parental leave.

Benefits for Adjunct Employees

Interested in teaching a class on the side and saving some of that income? The University System of New Hampshire offers their adjunct employees, an Adjunct 403(b) Retirement Plan (employee contribution only) where such employees can contribute either 2.5 percent or six percent of their UNH income to their retirement plan.

A Lighter Summer

Year-round employees at Johnson & Wales University enjoy an adjusted summer schedule with an early release on Friday afternoons. Equivalent paid time off is given to employees whose department is unable to participate in the Friday early release program.

Ask the Writers

Margaret Hansen has been writing professionally since receiving a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Maine. She has worked for multiple organizations as a weekly newspaper reporter, a weekly newspaper editor, and in a variety of internal/external marketing communications roles. Her freelance career has focused on writing and editing for print, email and web publications in the employment industry, as well as manuscript editing and resume writing.